Those large "minor civil divisions" on this map are actually large areas demarcated by the U.S. Census Bureau. They are actually divided up in 100s of MCDs, most of which are named with the Township / Range format, e.g., T6 R12.
This map is straight from census.gov, just because these areas are "townships" don't necessarily mean they're minor civil divisions. (see this Wikipedia page)
The Census Bureau infamously goes against local jurisdictions when determining borders on things it doesn't consider a municipality.
Townships in Maine fall under LURC, just like the Plantations, Gores, etc. that are listed here such as Hibberts Gore, Matinicus Plantation, etc. Some townships are listed, such as Mussel Ridge, Louds Island, etc., while a slew of others are not. The Perkin's Township (called Swan Island by everybody) near Richmond is included; the one near Weld is not. In the past couple decades many smaller towns have surrendered administration to the state under LURC, but still maintain input.
The giant areas on the Census Bureau map that are named things like "Northern Aroostook" are not in any way recognized by Maine. They collectively comprise another approximately 380 minor civil divisions under Maine law.
I was going to make a quiz like this at one point, but couldn't find a map online with all 911 or 912 MCDs that wasn't excessively detailed.
There are many around Moosehead for example that fall under the heavy hand of LURC, but are nevertheless named "minor civil divisions" by the state and widely known by those names. In most of the U.S., land within a county that isn't incorporated is thrown back under county government. New England county government has no jurisdiction over land except to have a sheriff department enforcing state law. In Rhode Island, Connecticut, and half of Massachusetts, the counties have been outright abolished as an added nonsense layer of government. Generally, land not officially called a "city" is disregarded by the Census Bureau as being a legitimate entity for population statistics.
Townships in Maine fall under LURC, just like the Plantations, Gores, etc. that are listed here such as Hibberts Gore, Matinicus Plantation, etc. Some townships are listed, such as Mussel Ridge, Louds Island, etc., while a slew of others are not. The Perkin's Township (called Swan Island by everybody) near Richmond is included; the one near Weld is not. In the past couple decades many smaller towns have surrendered administration to the state under LURC, but still maintain input.
The giant areas on the Census Bureau map that are named things like "Northern Aroostook" are not in any way recognized by Maine. They collectively comprise another approximately 380 minor civil divisions under Maine law.
I was going to make a quiz like this at one point, but couldn't find a map online with all 911 or 912 MCDs that wasn't excessively detailed.
If you h
Here's one old map online of them: "Maine Minor Civil Divisions" from the Maine State Library: https://digitalmaine.com/maps/124/
There are many around Moosehead for example that fall under the heavy hand of LURC, but are nevertheless named "minor civil divisions" by the state and widely known by those names. In most of the U.S., land within a county that isn't incorporated is thrown back under county government. New England county government has no jurisdiction over land except to have a sheriff department enforcing state law. In Rhode Island, Connecticut, and half of Massachusetts, the counties have been outright abolished as an added nonsense layer of government. Generally, land not officially called a "city" is disregarded by the Census Bureau as being a legitimate entity for population statistics.